graham



0a. 1.4, 1930; H. E. GRAHAM 1,778,669

SELF RELEASING DRAIN VALVE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0a. 14,1930. H. E. GRAHAM 1,778,669

SELF RELEASING DRAIN VALVE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedOct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMAN E. GRAHAM, OF MAB/ION,INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIP- MENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SELF-RELEASING DRAIN VALVEApplication filed. January 24, 1927.

This invention, generally stated, relates to a system of supplying fluidpressure to main and lateral pipe lines, such for example, as thosecommonly used in foundries at molders benches, and for automaticallydraining the same, when not in use, to prevent freezing.

More particularly stated, it relates to a novel form and arrangement ofself-releasing and anti-freezing drain valves, designed. arranged andconstructed to automatically discharge such fluid as would otherwiseremain trapped in the service pipes, both main and lateral, afterdiscontinuation of the service flow or pressure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an organized systemof supply and lateral fluid-pressure pipes, with supply and releasevalves suitably located therein, for controlling a fluid inlet andoutlets, the latter, outlet or releasing drain-valves, adapted toautomatically assume a closed position under pressure normallyprevailing in the system, and adapted to automatically open when suchpressure is discontinued, as a means of effectually draining thecommunicating pipes for the purpose of preventing freezing, when lowtemperature and climatic conditions are such as to endanger both pipesand valves.

V'Vith the'foregoing and otherobjects and aevantages in view, thepresent invention will be hereinafter particularly described, andfinally set forth by the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings which form part of this application forLetters-Patent, and whereon like characters indicate corresponding partsin the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a main fluid pressure supply-pipe, withlateral standpipes leading therefrom to individual moldeis benches, thelatter each having one of the improved self-releasing drain-valveslocated therein;

Fig. 2is also aside elevation of the invention corresponding exactlywith Figure 1, except that the main supply pipe is here shown as locatedabove the individual lateral pipes and molders benches;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, central, sectional View through oneof'the automatic self-releasing drain valves employed;

Serial No; 163,285.

Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the drain-valve partly in section, showingthe globe or body portion of valve in vertical central section at rightangles to that of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of valve with the screw-threaded cap and stemremoved; and

Fig. 6 isa modification of the valve case and contents shown in verticalcentral sec tion.

-Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicates amain fluid pressure pipe, 2 a main supply globe-valve controlling theinlet to said pipe, located in a valve-house or otherwise suitablypositioned, and 3 indicates a main drain-valve in the supply pipe 1, ofany desired form of construction. i

The numerals 4indicate lateral pipes communicating directly with themain supply pipe 1 as shown, each terminating in a flexible deliveryconnection 5, leading to its particular melders bench (not shown), andeach equippec with one of the improved self-releasing drain-valves 6,now to be more particularly described.

The general exterior appearance and form of this automatic orself-releasing drainvalve 6 is that of an ordinary globe-valve, having abody portion 7 a through-way 8, a screw cap 9, a screw-actuated stem 10,and an operating hand-wheel 11.

Swivelled loosely upon the lower end of the rotatable valve-stem 10however, is a nonrotatable cage 12, entirely open on one side, and ofskeleton construction, having two oppositely positioned divisions, orguide members, 13, 13, running in vertical groove Ways 14., 14, toprovide for a vertical movement, and at the same time to prevent arotary movement of the cage 12 under influence of the screw stem 10.

WVithin the cage 12 is positioned a loose ball valve capable of slighthorizontal said cage 12 as will later appear in a brief statement ofoperation.

In the modification indicated by Figure 6 of the drawings the cage 12 isdispensed with, the ball valve 15 being vertically and eentrallyperforated as at 17 to loosely receive an extension 18 ot the valve-stem10, and

valve-seat it? being sli 1 projected into the valve-chamber as shown, soas to reduce the required movement of the valve to its seat, andconsequently the required diameter of the perforation 17.

This being a description of the venlien in one eperadve term truction,it will be apparent that any suitable fluid pressure may be employed inthe system. Figure 1 of the drawings, for example, presupposes the useof water, with the main supply or service line 1 located below the"frost line, and the line 03, as, indicating the ground, with lateralsl, in the nature of stand pipes, leading to the points of utilization ofthe water pressure.

In this assembly there is no particular necessity for arranging theservice line 1 an angle so as to drain toward the outlet valve 3, samebeing below the line ann thus protected against freezing.

On the other hand, Figure 2 presupposes air pressure, and an air linearranged above the molders benches (not shown), the main service line 1,in this instance, being slightly depressed at one end as shown, so as todrain any accumulated water, the result of condensation, toward theoutlet valve 3 when occasion requires. Obviously an air line, such asindicated by Figure 2, is by no means restricted to depending laterals 4as shown. These air laterals, if desired, may as well rise from thefloor line, or from beneath a floor line, to molders benches, or otherpoints of illll.l?it1l' '1 above, such as indicated by ure 1, without inthe least departing from the spirit of this invention, in which eventthe drainage would be substantially as indicated by Figure 1, exceptthat it would be desirable to slightly incline the service pipe 1 towardits main drain valve 3.

In operation, the discharge valve 3 is first closed, and the main supplyvalve 2 is opened to admit fluid pressure into the main supply orservice pipe 1, from any suitable compressor, pump, or other source ofsupply, (not shown). This pressure, by my cf laterals el, normallyoperates upon all balls 15, to automatically close the valves 6, atindividual benches or points of pressure utilization. That is to say,pressure exerted in the direction indicated by arrow in Figure 3 of thedrawings, slightly projects the balls 15 from the open side of theirrespective cages 12, to the position indicated by dotted lines, upon thevalve seat 16 to close the valve.

It now a molder at any one or more of the benches in the system,requires the fluid pressure "for use in the ordinary course, he increlyoperates his particular valve hand-wheel 11 in a counter clockwisedirection, and thus, by agency of the screw actuated stem 10, elevatescage 12 in its vertical groove-ways 14, 14, to lift the ball 15 from itsseat 16, whereupon pressure is supplied through the flexible connection5 as long as required. Obviously a reversal of this operation againcloses the valve 6 and interrupts the supply of fluid pressure.

Heretotore where ordinary standard valves rather than the specialreleasing drain valves 6 of the present invention, have been employed inair and water lines at molders benches throughout a foundry, andsometimes upon diii erent floors thereof, it has been necessary tomanually and laboriously open each individual valve after working hoursduring the winter months, for drainage purposes to prevent freezing.

Installation of the present system and self releasing drain valves 6,however, greatly facilities this draining process which is then easilyand quickly accomplished as follows:

The main supply valve 2 in the fluid pressure line 1, being firstclosed, the drain valve 3 is opened, whereupon the pressure back of theballs 15, in their respective valves (3 throughout the entire system,being removed, these balls automatically drop back by gravity into theirrespective cages 12, thus insuring an opening suificient to drainlaterals 4, and also admit air into the main line 1 so that it willproperly drain through its outlet 3. And, when air laterals 4,- arearranged, as shown by Figure 2, in depending relation to the main supplyline 1, it is clear that there will also be drainage directly throughthe valves 6 themselves, via the flexible connections 5, wheneverpressure in the supply pipe and laterals is released as aforesaid.

The foregoing being a description of the present invention in oneapproved form ot construction, it should be understood that the same isby no means so limited, but on the contrary contemplates and includesvarious changes and modifications in the form, arrangement andcombinations of parts, set forth, so long as they do not materiallydepart from the principle of operation and substantially theconstruction as set forth in the following claims.

What I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid pressure valve comprising a body provided with an interiorchamber having parallel grooves at opposite sides and a valve seat atone end, a stem extending into the chamber, a skeleton cage carried inthe chamher having a pair of oppositely disposed ribs received in thegrooves of the valve body and a third rib disposed at substantially aright angle from said first mentioned ribs, all the ribs meeting in thelower and upper portions of the cage, a ball carried by the lowerportion of the cage and movable to and from the seat and means forconnecting the upper portion of the cage to the stem.

2. A fluid pressure valve comprising a body provided with an interiorchamber having parallel grooves at opposite sides and a valve seat atone end, a stem associated with the body and movable axially into andout of the chamber, a cage having an upper and a lower por ion and threeribs meeting in said upper and lower portions, two of the ribs beingreceived in the grooves of the valve body and the third rib beingdisposed in a plane at substantially a right angle from those of thegrooves, a ball carried by the lower portion of he cage and movable toand from the seat, and means connecting the upper portion o1 the cage tothe stem.

3. A fluid pressure valve as claimed in claim 2 in which the stem andthe body are associated in screw-threaded relation and in which theupper portion of the cage is swivelled to the stem.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

HEB-MAN E. GRAHAM.

